Indicator device for drip-pans.



No. 7I7,309. Paented Dec. 30, |902.

F. E. WIESNER.

INDICATOR DEVICEFOH DBIP PANS.

(Application led Aug. 29, 1902.)

(No Model.)

A T'OHNE YS.

z ing-tube closed, as when in use.

UNITED STATES PATENT OEEICE.

FREDERICK E. WIESNER, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

INDVICATOR DEVICE` FOR DRlP-PANS.

QPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 717,309, dated December 30, 1902.

Application filed August Z9. 1902. Serial No. 121,455. (No model.)

ro pecially for use in connection with refrigerators and by which to indicate the height of water in the drip-pan at one side of the refrigerator; and the invention consists in eertain novel constructions and combinations of i 5 parts, as will be hereinafter described'f'and claimed.

In the drawings, Figure l is a side elevation, partly in section, of adrip-pan provided with my improvements in position for use.

zo Fig. 2 is a detail vertical section of the indicator, connecting-tube, and a portion of the pan. Fig. 3 is a detail perspective view of the indicator-frame. Fig. 4 is a detail perspective view of the outer end of the connect- Fig. 4a is a detail perspective view of the outer end of the connecting-tube with the edges slightly separated. Fig. 5 is a detail vertical section 0f the indicator, showing the ioat provided 3o with a stem extending upwardly through the cap of the indicator; and Fig. 6 is a detail perspective view of the float having the stem.

The drip-pan A may be of ordinary construction except as hereinafter described.

3 5 From one side of the pan near its lower end 4o as shown in Figs. 2, 4, and 4a, being cornposed of a strip of metal of the desired width whose outer end is sloped at B to form the beveled union with the lower end of the indicator-frame and whichv is provided at its opposite edges with the outwardly-projecting strips or extensions which overlap each other, as shown in Fig. 4, and underlie and form a support for the float D or E in the use of the device, as shown in Figs. 2 and 5. These 5o strips B extend across the lower end of the indicator, and thus support the iioat without interfering with the passage of water from the connecting-tube into the indicator, as will be understood from Figs. 2 and 5. The connection of the tube B with the pan A may be braced by the conical nipple a, as shown in Figs. l and 2.

'The indicator, as shown, includes a frame F and a tube G, together with a cap H, as shown in Figs. l and 5. The frame F has a lower tubular portion F', beveled to unite at B with the outer end of the connecting-tube and to form a seat for the lower end ofthe tube G, which latter is preferably made of glass, rests upon the support b, and is packed by a cement or other similar illing I, supplied within the tubular portion F around the lower end of the tube G, as will be understood from Figs. 1 and 5. Packing may also be provided at the upper end of the glass tube, as shown in Figs. l and 5. By this means leakage is prevented around the glass tube at its lower end, the tubular portion F retaining the cement, and the construction of the frame F being such that its upper end can be drawn slightly together in order to fit tightly around the upper end of the tube G, as will be understood from Figs. 2 and 3.

The frame F, as best shown in Fig. 3, is cut from a plate of metal having the lower portion to form the tube F', the upright strips fat its opposite edges, the intermediate upright strip f and the top strip or band f 2, having the upwardlyprojecting lugs f3, as shown in Fig. 3. By this construction the frame can be bent from a flat form into that of a tube, as shown in Fig. 3, after which the tube G being properly inserted and the frame F being united at B with the tube B the cement I may be supplied, the band f2 Iitting tightly around t-he upper end of the tube G and the lugs f3 being bent over and within` the upper end of the tube G. It will be understood that the frame F may be soldered or brazed at B in connection with the outer end of the tube B and that the strips f may be brazed, soldered, or otherwise united, as desired.

The cap H is fitted on theupper end of the indicator and has a flange extending down thereover for a short distance.

The ioat E operates in the tube G, resting in its lowermost position on the support b and IOC indicating as it rises and falls the height of v water in the pan A. This ioat may be a simple ball, as shown at D in Fig. 2`, or it may be a ball E, having a stem E operating through an opening in the cap, as will be understood from Figs. 5 and 6.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. A drip-pan provided with an outwardlyextending connectingtube composed of a strip of metal bent upon itself into tubular form and having at the upper side of its outer end the extending strips or extensions overlapping each other and forming a support for the indicator tube and float, the indicator having a frame formed with a lower tubular portion uniting with the outer end of the connecting-tube, upright strips extending from said tubular portion, a band connecting the upper ends of the upright strips and provided with upwardly-projecting lugs the indicatortube tting in said frame and at its lower end Within the tubular portion of the frame and at its upper end within the top band, the projecting lugs being bent over and within the upper ends of the indicator-tu be, and the vfloat operating in said tube, substantially as set forth.

2. An indicator substantially as described comprising the connecting-tube provided at the upper side of its outer end with the support for the indicator-float, the indicator-tubeA communicating with the connecting-tube, and the float operating in the indicator-tube and resting in its lowermost position on the supporting portion of the connecting-tube, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination of the connecting-tube having a beveled outer end, the strip projecting outwardly from the upper side of the outer end of the connecting-tube, the indicator-frame having its lower end beveled and itted and secured to the beveled end of the connecting-tube, the indicator-tube and the floattherein substantially as set forth.

4. An indicator comprising the connectingtube, the indicator-tube and the frame therefor secured at its lower end rigidly to the connecting-tube and divided longitudinally from end to end whereby it may be applied to and bent around the indicator-tube and having upper and lower portions to encircle the tube and connections between said upper and lower portions and spaced apart to expose the indicator-tube to View substantially as set forth.

5. The combination with the connectingtube having the projecting end strip for supporting the lioat, of the oat, an indicatortube, and the indicatorframe having the lower tubular portion united with the connecting-tube, the upper band having lugs bent in connection with the indicator-tube, and the strips connecting said band and lower tubular portion, substantially as described.

FREDERICK E. WIESNER.

Witnesses:

SoLoN C. KEMON, PERRY B. TURPIN. 

